Monarch Butterflies and Birds
Monarch Butterfly Reserves and Central Mexico Endemics
One of the greatest ecological spectacles in the world is the wintering grounds of the monarch butterflies in a small area of forest in central Mexico. Over 20 million monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) make their amazing yearly migration of more than 2000 miles from Canada and the United States to a small area in the mountains in the highland pine forests of Michoacan and the Estado de Mexico. Each year, a special generation of these extraordinary butterflies discovers the same place. It’s a marvel of nature that is not to be missed!
There are several sanctuaries that protect these forests and we’ll visit two of them. In addition, we’ll bird La Cima for the Sierra Madre Sparrow and Strickland’s Woodpecker. We also visit the Lerma marshes, where we look for the beautiful and highly endangered Black-polled Yellowthroat. We’ll also spend some time birding around the Lake Patzcuaro region looking for some central Mexico endemics such as Dusky Hummingbird, Black-backed Oriole, Pilleated Flycatcher, Transvolcanic Jay, Russet-nightingale Thrush, Golden-cheeked Woodpecker and Striped Sparrow.
Beyond birds and butterflies we have the opportunity to explore the staggering Mexican biodiversity, enjoy great food, some amazing arts and crafts and lots of adventure!
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2025
February 8 - 15
$3850 per person
$650 single supplement -
2026
February 8 - 15
Trees heavy with Monarchs
Angangueo near the butterfly reserve
Aztec Rail
Beef tartare in Guadalajara
Striped Sparrows
If you need any textiles... Patzcuaro is the place
Lots of Monarchs
Barbara at Cuitzeo
Patzcuaro
The beautiful garden at our hotel in Patzcuaro
Black-polled Yellowthroat
Endemic Striped Sparrows are common our first day
Patzcuaro
Quesadillas and fava bean soup in the mountains
Black-polled Yellowthroat
One of Basilios lunches
Our last nights dinner in Guadalajara
Horses are available to get you to the butterflies if needed
One Monarch that didn't make it
Our driver Basilio and one of his fantastic picnic spreads, he's an artist
Sierra Madre Sparrow Habitat
We will see literally millions of Monarch Butterflies
Peg Abbotts birdie a couple of years ago!
The Agua Blanca hotel is our home for three nights
Our hotel in Patzcuaro
One of the beautiful rooms at the Posada Yohulanni hotel
The main plaza in Patzcuaro
The beautiful streets of Patzcuaro where we stay for two nights
The range restricted endemic Stricklands Woodpecker
The Endemic and highly endangered Sierra Madre Sparrow is one of our main targets on this trip
The Black-poled Yellowthroat is also extremely endangered and another target on the trip
A beautiful Song Sparrow
Rivoli's Hummingbird checking us out
Red Warbler
Cinnamon-bellied Flowrerpiercer
Townsends Warbler
Chestnut-sided Shrike-vireo